Despite HC ban, dumping of debris goes unchecked

Our Correspondent

Palampur, February 14

Despite a ban imposed on the dumping of debris and other waste material in local rivers and water streams by the state High Court and subsequent notification issued by the state government, there is no check on the dumping waste material on road sides, local khuds and forests.

Palampur-Kalu-Di-Hatti stretch of the national highway has turned into a major dumping site near the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) rest house as dozens of private vehicles can be seen dumping waste and debris on the road side in gross violations of the government orders.

The state Public Works Department (PWD) who looks after the maintenance of the highway has failed to initiate any action. It has also failed in serving notices to the defaulters.

Senior officials of the PWD, including the executive engineer and assistant engineer, have become mute spectators. A forest near Chokki village on the Palampur-Maranda road has also become a garbage dumping site.

In another case, owners of a private building which is under construction on the bank of the Mol Khud are also dumping debris, muck and other material in the Mol Khud near Rajpur village in violation of the state government’s order.

The High Court in its recent judgment had directed the state government that no one should be allowed to dump debris, muck and stones in the water channel, rivers and local khuds which obstruct the natural flow of water and results in degradation of environment.